Durham Match Thread 2025

[Durhamfootman]

a result, which we must have, looks increasingly unlikely

still.... we're going to win all of the last 3 games according to Cambo as he dusts off his new contract extension

[captaincolly]

Good news is that the weather forecast looks better going forward- bad news is that the bowling doesn't!
That attack looks ill equipped to take 20 wickets ( let alone take them quickly so we can make up for the lost day.)
Miraculously Libby is out but only 2 wickets in the session.

[captaincolly]

It's all too predictable. When the 4th wicket fell there was a chance to take control but the attack seems toothless. I presume Potts and Raine will be on after tea but it feels like last orders in the last chance saloon!

[Durhamfootman]

My biggest fear is that Worcs make a half decent score today. With rain around tomorrow and both teams needing the win, it would be typical if we offered to forfeit our first innings with Worcs forfeiting their second and making it a winner takes all affair on a Thursday with the forecast looking iffy, leaden skies a certainty and interruptions for rain showers possible, so that we throw away the chance to get some solid bonus points to take into the Yorks game. The weather is going to affect lots of teams this week and there is no certainty that next week will be much better, but I reckon we'll panic and throw away the chance of 12 or 13 points by contriving to lose this game stupidly and have no buffer at all that might just scrape us over the line next week

[Durhamfootman]

and tbh, Worcs are only pootling along in a foreshortened game that they have to win, so I think that they think we'll make this deal too and they are taking their time today to put themselves in the best possible position for when Lees knocks on their dressing room door ahead of the final day

[captaincolly]

That scenario is definitely one that could end in disaster - and Worcestershire have the joint most bowling points in the division.
It's really an unusual table - we somehow have more bowling points than both Notts and Surrey.

[andy]

Notts and Surrey were in the bottom 2 in terms of bowling points picked up going into this round of games...it's bizarre...however they play on two of the flattest grounds in the country so no suprise they have highest batting points ..complete opposite to worcestershire who play on a tricky deck and can't buy a batting point yet have a load of bowling points

[Durhamfootman]

and there's the hundred partnership while Raine and Potts have a rest and we wait for the new ball

seen it all season

[captaincolly]

Notts and Surrey were in the bottom 2 in terms of bowling points picked up going into this round of games...it's bizarre...however they play on two of the flattest grounds in the country so no suprise they have highest batting points ..complete opposite to worcestershire who play on a tricky deck and can't buy a batting point yet have a load of bowling points

Yes, 10 batting points before this game.

[captaincolly]

and there's the hundred partnership while Raine and Potts have a rest and we wait for the new ball

seen it all season

They surely should have had a few overs straight after tea, we needed a breakthrough before the new ball.
There's an element of farce creeping in - we've had all the problems with injured bowlers...and now the bowling coach Onions is on crutches! Apparently broke his kneecap after getting hit during the warmup at Chelmsford. You couldn't make it up.

[captaincolly]

Kasey Aldridge with a century ( with the bat!) for Somerset against Hampshire.

[Durhamfootman]

weather looking grim atm

[Durhamfootman]

We still can't make any inroads and Worcs seem happy to keep plodding along in a game they must win.

I know we'll offer a forfeiture.... they know we'll offer a forfeiture, so for them to set us a big final innings question will almost ensure that they walk away with 21 points while we walk away with 1.

I'll bet you that we do it..... bet you. We just won't be able to resist it and we'll throw away any chance we have of staying up before we even get to Headingley

We might not be able to take wickets, but we'll end up gifting away our wickets in return trying to chase 450, in what will turn out to be less than a day

[Durhamfootman]

503-8

I can't work out what Worcs are up to here, because they could have declared on 450 whilst waiting for the big expansive offer from Lees. We haven't got 350 runs in us, let alone 450.

Fortunately for us, only a complete loon would make that forfeiture offer with 500 runs needed and only a rain affected day to get them..... although I haven't ruled it out completely, because we aren't that bright really...... so as long as there are lots of draws around tomorrow, we might yet go into the Yorks game with a chance of surviving the drop

[Durhamfootman]

maybe Worcs have accepted their fate for this season and are collectively playing for their next contracts

they really don't seem remotely bothered about a game where anything other than a win guarantees relegation